Panel folder



United States Patent O 2,995,290 PANEL FOLDER Elmer G. Swanson and Robert L. Reid, Salinas, Calif., assgnors to St. Regis Paper lCompany, a corporation 'of New York Filed May 28, 1957, Ser. No. 662,069 1 Claim. (Cl. 229-33) This invention relates to folders land blanks therefor, and more particularly to a paperboard or iiberboard container known in the art of box making as a panel folder.

Panel folders may be used for a great many purposes. For example, paperboard panel folders may be used to package box lunches or for heavier duties. At any rate, several uses for panel folders require that they be set up from blanks within 'a minimum amount of time.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a panel folder which may lbe set up from a blank in a very short time.

In -accordance with the invention, a pressure-sensitive adhesive coating is applied to several dilferent areas on a panel folder of a particular construction. The advantages of the use of such an adhesive will thus conveniently be combined for use wit-h a panel folder. Moreover, a specific coating arrangement is provided in acoordance with the invention to prevent a panel folder from sticking to itself or from sticking to identical folders when stacked together.

The novel features which `are believed to be quickest of the invention both as to its work and method of operation tolgether with further objects and advantages thereof, will be better understood from the following description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, made a part of this specification.

FIG. l is a plan view of -a panel folder blank coated in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the panel folder of the invention partially assembled; and

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the panel folder completely assembled.

In the drawing in FIG. l the panel folder of the invention is shown including a bottom panel 10, rstand second end panels 12 and 14, respectively, hingedlyconnected to opposite ends of the botto'm. panel on a first set of score lines 16. First and second side panels 18, 20 are hingedly connected to opposite sides of the bottom panel on a second set yof score lines 22. A first end ap 24 is provided at one end of each of the side panels, the rst end flaps 24 being hingedly connected to corresponding side panels at a third set of score lines 26. A second end flap 28 is provided at the opposite ends of each of the side panels 18, 20, the second end llaps 26 being hingedly connected to the side panels -18, Z at a fourth set of score lines 130'. lFirst and second top panels 32, 34 are hingedly connected to the `end panels on a fifth set of score lines 36 parallel to' the rst set of score lines 16. A first pair of side aps 38 are hingedly connected to opposite sides of the rst top panel 32 Iat a sixth set of score lines 40. A second pair of side flaps 42 then are hingedly connected to opposite sides of the second top panel 34 at a seventh set of score lines 44.

A first end flap strip 46 of pressure-sensitive adhesive material is provided on the ends of each of the first end aps 24 and a first end panel strip 48 of a pressuresensitive adhesive coating is provided between a correspending o'ne of the first set of score lines 16 and a corresponding one of the fifth set of score lines 36 to underlie only the coated portions of the first end flaps 2-4. The first end panel strip 48 has a width equal to twice the width of one of the lirst end ap strips 46.

2,995,290 Patented Aug. 8, 196.1

The rst end panel strip 48 is spaced from the ends of the first end panel 12 to prevent the first end flap strips 46 from sticking thereto. The rst end panel strip 48 is positioned at the symmetrical center of the rst end panel 12, the first end flap strips. 46 being spaced from corresponding ones of the third set of score lines 26 a distance equal to the distance from one end of the first end panel 12 to' the first end panel strip 48 to overlie exactly one half yof the first end panel strip 48 Iand thereby effect an economical distribution of the pressure-sensitive adhesive over the first end aps 46.

A first side ilap strip 54 is provided only in one corner of each of the first side flaps 3-8 spaced from the first end ilap strips 46 to prevent inadvertent sticking thereto. A lirst area 57 is provided on each of the side panels identical to those of the rst side flap strips 54 to underlie them, the first 'areas 57 also being coated with a pressuresensitive adhesive material.

The panel folder blank is completely symmetrical in that `a seco-nd end flap strip 50 of a pressure-sensitive adhesive material is provided one-ach end of each of the second end flaps 28and a second end panel strip 52 of a pressure-sensitive adhesive is coated from a corresponding one of the `irst set of score lines 1-.6 to a corersponding one of the fifthv set of score lines 36 to underlie only the coated portions of the second end flaps 2-8. The second end panel strip 52 has a width twice the width of vone of the second end flap strips 50. The second end panel strip 52 is then spaced from the ends of the seco'nd end panel 1'4 to prevent the second end flap strips 50 from sticking thereto. The second end panel strip 52 is positioned at the symmetrical center of the second end panel 14. The second end flap strips 50 are spaced from corresponding ones of the fourth set of score lines 30 a distance equal to the distance from one end of `the second end panel 14 to the second end panel strip-52 to overlie exactly one half of the second end panel strip 52 and thereby effect an economical distribution of the pressuresensitive adhesive over the second end flaps 28.

A second side llapstrip 58 is provided only in'one corner of each of the second side flaps 42 spaced from 'the second end flap strips 50 to prevent inadvertent sticking thereto. A second area S6 on each ofk the(V side panels 18, 20 identical to those of the second side llap strips 58 are provided to underlie them, the second areas 56 being coated with a pressure-sensitive adhesive material.

The panel folder of the invention is shown partially assembled in FIG. 2 with end panels 12 and 14 folded vertically upwardly. Similarly side panels 18 and 20 are folded vertically upwardly, whereby rst end flaps 24 m-ay be folded over end panel 12 with rst end flap strips 48 overlying first end panel strip 48. Similarly, second end flaps 26 are folded over second end panel 14, whereby second end flap strips 50 overlie second end panel strip 52.

As shown in FIG. 3, top panels 32 and 34 are then folded over the top of the panel folder, whereby side panels 38 may be positioned outside of, but immediately adjacent side panels 18 and 20. Similarly, side flaps 42 Iare positioned adjacent a second half of the external portions of side panels 18 and 20, respectively.

In each of these cases, corresponding adhesive coated areas on the side flaps 38 and 42 will overlie corresponding areas on each of the side panels 18 and 20, Specifically, side llap strips 54 will overlie side panel strips 57 and side llap strips 58 will overlie side panel strips 56 to provide a completed panel folder of a sturdy construction as indicated in FIG. 3. The panel folder thus may be set up completely from the blank shown in FIG. l in a relatively short time.

Furthermore, the fact that end panel strips 48 and 52 are spaced from the ends of corresponding first and second end panels 12 and 14 make it impossible for any coated areas on first and second end flaps 24 and 26 from sticking to the end panel strips 48 and 52.

Similarly, the fact that side flap strips 54 and S8 are spaced from end fiap strips 46 and 50 respectively, prevent side aps 38 and 42 from sticking to end flaps 24 and 26 respectively.

Still further, it is to be noted that as dotted hachures are employed to indicate coatings on the opposite side of `the blank shown in FIG. 1 and not visible in this view and that therefore no coatings occupy same corresponding areas on opposite sides of the blank. This means that a stack of blanks identical to the ones shown in FIG. 1 will not stick to one another when they are stacked together.

It is to be understood that although one embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, that this has been done merely for purposes of illustration and that the true scope of the invention is defined only in the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

A panel folder blank comprising: a bottom panel; first and second end panels hingedly connected to opposite ends of said bottom panel on a first set of score lines; first and second side panels hingedly connected to opposite sides of said bottom panel on a second set of score lines; a first end flap at one end of each of said side panels, said first end fiaps being hingedly connected to corresponding side panels at a third set of score lines; a second end ap at the opposite end of each of said side panels, said second end aps being hingedly connected to said side panels at a fourth set of score lines; first and second top panels hingedly connected to said end panels on a iifth set of score lines parallel to Said first set of score lines; a first pair of side aps hingedly connected to opposite sides of said rst top panel at a sixth set of score lines; a second pair of side fiaps hingedly connected to opposite sides of said second top panel at a seventh set of score lines; a first end ap strip of a pressure-sensitive adhesive material coated onto the ends of each of said first end flaps; a first end panel strip of a pressure-sensitive adhesive coating extending from a corresponding one of said rst set of score lines to a corresponding one of said fifth set of score lines to underlie only the coated portions of said first end aps, said first end panel strip having a width equal to twice the width of one of said Iirst end iiap strips, said first end panel strip being spaced from the ends of the first end panel to prevent said first end flap strips from sticking thereto, said rst end panel strip being positioned at the symmetrical center of said first end panel, said first end flap strips being spaced from corresponding ones of said third set of score lines a distance equal to the distance from one end of said first end panel to said first end panel strip to overlie exactly one half of said first end panel strip and thereby effect an economical distribution of said pressure-sensitive adhesive over said first end flaps; a first side flap strip only in one corner of each said first pair of side flaps spaced from said rst end ap strips to prevent inadvertent sticking thereto; a rst area on each of said side panels identical to those of said first side flap strips to underlie them, said first areas being coated with a pressure-sensitive adhesive material; a second end ap strip of a pressure-sensitive adhesive material coated onto the end of each of said second end flaps; a second end panel strip of a pressure-sensitive adhesive coating extending from a corresponding one of Said first set of score lines to a corresponding one of said fifth set of score lines to underlie only the coated portions of said second end aps, said second end panel strip having a width equal to twice the width of one of said second end ap strips, said second end panel strip being spaced from the ends of the second end panel to prevent said second end ap strip from sticking thereto, said second end panel strip being positioned at the symmetrical center of said second end panel, said second end flap strips being spaced from corresponding ones of said fourth set of score lines a distance equal to the distance from one end of said second end panel to said second end panel strip to overlie exactly one half of said second end panel strip and thereby elect an economical distribution of said pressure-sensitive adhesive over said second end flaps; a second side flap strip only in one corner of each of said second side iiaps spaced from said second end iiap strips to prevent inadvertent sticking thereto; a second area on each of said side panels identical to those of said second side ap strips to underlie them, said second areas being coated with a pressure-sensitive adhesive material.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 279,756 Heston June 19, 1883 655,939 Overton Aug. 14, 1900 1,936,136 Lindgren Nov. 21, 1933 2,078,446 Grigg Apr. 27, 1937 FOREIGN PATENTS 750,239 France May 22, 1933 

